I’ve been trying to backup a client’s database (via the Utilities link), but everytime I attempt it I get an error that says “Decompression Failed.”

Any ideas what the problem might be and how I can go about getting a valid database backup?

Thanks!

How big (approx) is your database if you know.  Can you run a repair and optimize on your database tables for us? (Admin > Utilities > SQL Manager).

1) “Decompresson Failed”
Are you getting this message after you’ve downloaded the archive?  Could you try alternating between zip and gzip and see if one gives you better results?  Also, do you have access to another archive program?  On windows, 7zip is good.  If you’re on a Mac let me know and I’ll pull up some alternatives for you there (although the default archiver on my Mac has always worked for me).

2) How do I get a valid database backup.
Your host probably has PHPmyAdmin available to you.  What many users do is simply use it.  You will find that as the database gets bigger and bigger, it is more reliable.

Finally, what version and build of EE are you running?

Derek,
The database is 25mb.

I’m rather afriad to mess anything up, so just to be sure:

To optimize and repair the tables I should:
1. Click Manage database tables
2. Click all tables
3. Select optimize tables
4. Submit
5. Select all
6. Select repair tables
7. Submit

Right?

And I’m on a Mac and the site is running 1.5.2 - I plan to upgrade, but I wanted to backup the database first.

Thanks for your help.

Yup, that’s it exactly!  I’d recommend you do the repair and then the optimize instead of the other way around, but you definitely have it.

Backing up before an upgrade is always a great idea, good call.  If your host gives you access to PHPmyAdmin, you could also do it through that.  Let us know if the repair helps anything.

Derek,
I did the repair and optimize, but it didn’t seem to fix the decompression issue.

I also tried downloading a backup via phpmyadmin, but in EE it says the database is 25mb, but when I downloaded a backup (via the export tab in phpmyadmin) it was only a 6mb download. I must have done something wrong, but I’m not sure what. Is there a tutorial you might be able to point me towards?

Thanks!
Kat

Never mind, the download DID work. I’ll try upgrading EE and hopefully that will fix the decompression issue. Thanks for your help Derek!

Kat

Hi, Kat.

You still might have a good backup, but it’s hard to tell at this point.

Have you tried doing things like clearing out the referrers? That will make the database a bit smaller.

You mentioned you were on a Mac. Have you tried unzipping the archive that way?

It also could be a memory issue in PHP.